Coming in July…. sort ofCanon Canada has started to confirm the preorder lists from retailers for the EOS-1D X. Retailers have to prove the people buying the camera are CPS members, and have prepaid for the camera. If the camera is needed for the Olympics, it appears you’re moved to the front of the line. I don’t know if any other countries are going to experience the same limitations with the initial shipment of cameras.

Canon Canada expects a very small number of cameras in July, and that should be the same across the globe.

It still looks like August, and more likely September, is when we’ll see larger quantities of the 1D X.

This image comes from a forum post on clubsnap and the poster mentions they’ll have to give them back when the production units come. They also won’t be allowed to post images from the camera on the web.

A bit more infoThe post from a couple of days ago sparked a lot of conversation. For the most part, most things were confirmed. The current cameras out there are not production models and will be returned to Canon when the production cameras hit the marketplace.

A few did mention that the end of June beginning of July is still the target date, but the quantity will be very small. I’m told a few sports photographers will be allocated the 1D X first. Retail availability in July was mentioned as being “optimistic”. August or September may be the months when big stock numbers hit the marketplace.

What’s going on?I have heard just about everything as to why the Canon EOS-1D X has been delayed for almost 3-4 months. I’ve heard blame being placed on battery approval in Japan, FCC approval in the United States, production issues with certain parts of the camera, serious firmware issues that had to be resolved to name a few. Canon has kept the issues very close to the vest and very few people know the exact reasons.

So?…..Recently I have been told by a couple of people that the version of the 1DX that has reached select AP and CPS photographers are not in fact production cameras, they are preproduction. Canon felt it was important to have the new camera out for Euro 2012 and the Olympics in London. It’s suggested that the cameras that are in the hands of these photographers will infact have to go back to Canon and will be replaced with the production model whenever they are ready.

That seems strange, no?

If anyone with a 1D X can confirm this, I’d love to hear it.

CRs TakeThe above may be untrue, however a 3-4 month delay in this day and age is a pretty unique thing (for anything other than big lenses). It tells me, and others, that something at the hardware level with the camera is being addressed and has required additional R&D and manufacturing considerations. If the issue was something like a battery or FCC approval, I don’t see the harm in just saying that in a press release and getting on with things.

Will the camera hit retailers in June? For the moment I don’t have an answer, I haven’t heard anything from major retailers about availability in a long time.